Upper Deck cards were originally marketed as 'The Collector's Choice'. But then in 1994 Upper Deck decided to launch a range called Collector's Choice. These were large card sets with numerous parallels and insert series, including Stick-Ums, push-out bobbleheads and confusing card games. As a result, Collector's Choice cards occupy a decent-sized portion of the Upper Deck part of my collection, even though the range ceased in 1998.
Card Number 352: Upper Deck Collector's Choice, 1994; #344
This is the Team Checklist for the Padres in the set. I've previously blogged about Tony's base card and its parallel.
The back is notable for having the 1994 Opening Day roster list. There aren't many memorable members of the starting line up.
During the first few years of Collector's Choice, all the cards had parallel versions with 'silver signatures' in foil on them. Even the checklists.
Card Number 353: Upper Deck Collector's Choice - Silver Signature, 1994; #344
Unfortunately, the silver foil scans black.
This is one of the cards in my collection that I will hopefully upgrade one day as it has a little bit of damage on the right hand side.
The back of the card is the same as the regular base version.
Just a note on that factoid. That .358 batting average that saw Tony achieve second place in the hitting tables in 1993 would have won him the National League batting title in 1985, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, as well as in 2001 (his final season) and 1983 (his rookie season), although he might not have made enough plate appearances in either of those seasons to qualify. (Since 2007, players have to make 502 plate appearances to be in contention for the title. However, I don't know what the rules were in the 80s and 90s.)
So, discounting the two years at either end of Tony's career, that batting average would have brought him a National League title in another five seasons and the overall Major League title in four of them. As it was, he was second in 1993 with that total.
Card Number 354: Upper Deck Collector's Choice Special Edition, 1995; #160
This range was a supplementary set released towards the end of the season. It included a number of rookie cards and also noted who made the All Star team that year. Tony had an All Star card.
The cardback has a better photo. This is Tony being The Fonz.
Card Number 355: Upper Deck Collector's Choice, 1996; #290
Tony is bursting out of the card but the 3D effects would be better if his arm was over the Collector's Choice logo as well.
There's a quiz question on the back! That's about the best thing on the cardback.
Tony was also chosen as the player on the Team Checklist in the set too.
Card Number 356: Upper Deck Collector's Choice, 1996; #408
Visually, this card looks very similar to the 1994 card I kicked off the blog post with.
Comparing this checklist to the 1994 one, most of the team had been replaced.
The factoids are about the Padres season in 1995. Given that this year San Diego has been nicknamed Slam Diego, one of the factoids is surprisingly relevant.
Card Number 357: Upper Deck Collector's Choice, 1997; #210
When I do a blog post like this there is always one card that has a weird choice of photo on the front. This is the weird (collector's) choice photo card in this post.
The 1996 All Star game was played at Philadelphia. Tony was elected to the starting line-up but didn't actually play. The National League won 6-0 without his input, though.
The little cartoon chap who was asking the baseball quiz questions on the cardbacks in 1996 was back with a 'Did you know?' section. It's not the most interesting tidbit of knowledge.
And that's the end of the run-through of the cards that Upper Deck claimed collectors would choose.
Total: 357/394
Back in the 90's, I wasn't the biggest fan of Collector's Choice. I would save my money to buy packs of Select Certified or Finest. But over the past few years, I've found myself more and more attracted to UDCC cards. Great photography. Solid backs with full career stats. And they're affordable. You can't ask for more as a collector.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I really like the style of the these cards.
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